Programs are available in-person and virtually.
PRESENTATION
Presentation Skills
Compel your audience and make an impact. The most common phrase participants use to describe this training is “huge relief” because it changes their presentation paradigm—removing its daunting mystery and replacing it with clear, easy steps and guidelines for reaching the hearts and minds of your audience. This paves the way for communication that fulfills your goals and delivers your brand. Through a combination of classic communication techniques and cutting-edge neuroscience, participants learn the keys to compelling an audience, making a positive impression, specific words that evoke desired audience reactions and the do’s and don'ts of: ∙Body language ∙Vocal delivery ∙On-camera presentation technique ∙Engaging an audience ∙The Data Sweet Spot: just the right amount of factual information ∙Strengthening your message through stories and personal comments ∙Speechcrafting ∙Overcoming nerves ∙Building audience rapport ∙Conveying credibility and gravitas ∙Making sure your message hits home ∙Graceful transitions between topics and program elements ∙Recovering from curveballs
Presentation for Pros
For experienced or professional speakers
Whether you are adapting to new forums (Ex: TED talks, commencement speeches, or Congressional hearings) or expanding your reach, this program will help you successfully navigate the unknown. Based on your core strengths, presentation goals, and public persona, we will help you refine and/or reinvent as needed. This can include elevating your personal brand, specific delivery techniques, and new messaging to fulfill what you are looking to accomplish. Examples include, but are not limited to: ∙Repositioning your delivery style ∙New word-crafting techniques ∙Greater facility with off-the-cuff speaking ∙Bypass Critical Factor technique ∙Ability to manage the tone in the room ∙Providing greater inspiration and motivation ∙Persuasion techniques ∙Learning to recognize subtle cues from the audience ∙Identifying and resolving cognitive dissonance in your listeners’ minds ∙Creating more texture in longer presentations ∙Handling sensitive topics or delivering bad news ∙Techniques for increasing audience retention ∙Delivering your brand This is a good fit for situations like: ∙Media or mass audience appearances ∙Congressional testimony (in partnership with your legal & PR teams) ∙Commencement speeches ∙Award acceptance speeches ∙TED Talks ∙High-level sales meetings ∙All-hands meetings
Team of Event Speakers
One of our most in-demand services
You have your talk points or script, a beautiful deck, and the logistical planning is complete. You’ve even practiced out loud once or twice. So what’s missing? Usually, the most critical part: The Audience Brain™. Most speaker teams create their presentations, strategies, and events in more of a vacuum than they realize. While you may have considered some audience perspectives, market research, and social media comments, you won’t fully know how your communication will land in the hearts and minds of your audience until you put yourself in their shoes—and their brain. Our presentation preparation gives you tools to look at everything that’s about to happen from the most important perspective--the people whom you hope to impact. This may result in wordcrafting refinements, more effective delivery, and a more precise messaging strategy. You will have the opportunity to be recorded and see your presentation as the audience sees it. (This is optional, of course!) In this discreet and supportive environment, you will also be able to ask questions about any uncertainties that may be weighing on your mind. This coaching is recommended for teams who are preparing for a high-stake event, such as: ∙Product launches ∙Major announcements or reveals ∙Investor meetings or board presentations ∙Congressional hearings ∙Press briefings by public officials
Panels and Q&A
Navigating panels and live Q&A sessions involves a special skillset beyond classic presentation or media training techniques. This is a golden opportunity to drill down into details not covered in your presentation, create a stronger story that drives home your message. A successful Q&A or panel is memorable to the audience because it leaves them with vivid images and a stronger connection to you. However, accomplishing this requires careful planning. Most speakers miss out on this opportunity, hoping to skate by with simple answers that are not long remembered or may even have unintended negative consequences. In this session, you will learn how to make the most out of every panel and Q&A session, including: ∙How to handle “gotcha” questions ∙How to gracefully cut off rambling panelists and audience members ∙How to answer questions directly while still keeping to your core message ∙What to do if you don’t know an answer ∙How to reframe questions to work to your advantage (without looking evasive) ∙How to distill complex information into a clear and concise answer ∙How to make your answers memorable ∙How to recover when things don’t go as planned ∙Panel and Q&A etiquette ∙Body language do’s and don’ts
Difficult Audiences
Handling hostile questions, hecklers or protestors can put even the most experienced speaker to the test. No matter how well you’ve prepared your speech, these situations can be irritating at best and a media nightmare at worst. Did you know that being effective starts before the disruption begins, not after? This training gives you step-by-step logistical guidelines and specific wordcrafting techniques to decrease the chance of people disrupting your event in the first place. It also helps you handle disruptions as quickly and smoothly as possible if they do occur. You will receive training in: ∙Logistical tips to help deter or minimize protestors/hecklers ∙Best practices for video/audio teams in the event of a disruption ∙Announcing bad news ∙Body language and staging in the face of protestors/hecklers ∙Verbal responses to audience disruptions ∙Specific words and phrases to avoid ∙Handling challenging or hostile questions ∙Audience plants--yes or no? Your team will leave this training more prepared, confident and able to handle anything that happens with poise and in keeping with your brand.
Nerve Reduction
Jerry Seinfeld famously said, "I saw a study that said that speaking in front of a crowd is considered the number one fear of the average person. I found that amazing. Number 2 was death...This means to the average person, if you have to be at a funeral, you would rather be in the casket than doing the eulogy." Nerves before or during a presentation can hamper your preparation, make you lose sleep, and diminish your effectiveness in front of a group. At worst, nerves can undermine your credibility and turn an audience off. Many people think there is no cure and have resigned themselves to avoiding public speaking, thus missing out on potential career-advancing opportunities. Or they suffer through the inevitable. But there is a fix. You will learn the techniques of world-class performers and professional athletes to reduce fear, gain confidence and present yourself with poise, strength, and credibility. You will also learn key preparation techniques and ways of connecting with the audience, which allows you to keep your focus on what really matters the most-- delivering your message in a way that reaches people. Results in this program are highly successful. They range from lessening nerves and fear to, in some cases, never experiencing them again. Either way, they will no longer get in the way of you delivering a powerful presentation at your best. You can look forward to: ∙Train your brain techniques to reduce fear and anxiety ∙How to prepare in a way that invokes focus and confidence ∙Visualization techniques used by professional athletes ∙An understanding of the fear spiral and how to nip it in the bud ∙The ability to diminish or completely release your fear ∙Greater skill in presentations, media appearances, meetings, Q&A, and panels
Excelling in Meetings
One of the most common concerns executives face is how they come across in important meetings. Whether it’s a small conference room with direct reports, presenting to the Board of Directors or sitting across the table from a less than well-wishing colleague, executives across different industries need to know how to handle interruptions, when to speak up, when to remain silent, what kind of body language to use and how to navigate a host of subtle but tricky pitfalls. This service, best offered as private or semi-private coaching, gives you insight into how you are coming across in meetings and how you can improve. You will gain: ∙Tools to handle obstacles with greater confidence ∙Skills for how to effectively navigate others' reactions, even in the trickiest of circumstances ∙User-friendly plan to convey your message and desired image while remaining authentic ∙Renewed resolution to accomplish your goals ∙Greater faith in your ability to do so
The Art of Storytelling
Created in partnership with Syd Field, known as “the guru of all screenwriters,” this fun, interactive workshop brings an innovative and creative angle to any kind of message, from software to politics, healthcare to semiconductors. The most iconic movies, television and social media content use tried and true techniques to tell their story in a compelling manner that not only influences our current culture but will also be remembered for generations to come. And the most effective business and political events do the same. In this workshop, the storytelling art form is applied to your world. In a dynamic atmosphere complete with video examples and techniques for releasing creativity, your team will uncover greater depth and texture to your story, gaining the ability to convey it in a more appealing, influential and memorable style that engages your audience and delivers on the things that matter to you. Program elements include but are not limited to: ∙The power of stories in the subconscious brain ∙Crucial elements to a meaningful story ∙How to craft a clear and effective story ∙3 tips to leave your audience wanting more ∙Specific words and phrases to create the effect you desire ∙The Data Sweet Spot—how much data to add and how to do it ∙Breakout groups and hands-on coaching
